Sifter top for receptacles



JuTy 13-, 1926.

H.HERMAN| SIFTER TOP FOR RECEPTACLES Filed March 2'7 1926 INVENTOR Ala-Nev Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HERMANI, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIN DECORATING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, OF BALTIMOBE,'MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

SIFTEB TOP FOR RECEPTACLES.

Application filed fiarch g'i, 1926. Serial No. 97,894.

This invention is an improvement in tops for receptacles, and more particularly in sifter tops for powder containers.

In the usual construction of sifter top, a

plurality of openings is provided, covered and uncovered by a valve plate, having openings to register with those of the top. The

nection between the top and the valve plate maybecome loose with consequent leakage and contam natlon.

When the valve plate is on the mner face,

the contents of the container, and particu-' larly powder, tend to enter between the plate and the cover, thus to clog the free movement of the plate, and if the plate is on the outer'face of the top it is liable to be torn off, bent out of shape, or its proper functioning otherwise impaired.

It is desirable that the valve plate be nor 80 mally urged or biased to closed position, in

order to insure closing after use. It is also desirable that the outer surface of the top be plain and smooth, without projections,

depressions or angles to catch and hold foreign bodies, dirt and the like, particu-' larly with cans designed for holding toilet articles for babies, thus to eliminate the possibility of injury to the child.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide atop'of the character specified, wherein the valve plate is en-' closed in a chamber-entirely outside of the can and communicating with (the interior only through the sifter openings. A further object is the provision of a cover wherein the valve plate and its enclosing chamber are so constructed as to prevent as completely as possible access of the powderv contents of the can tothe chamber.

Another object is the provision of a cover wherein the valve plate is normally urged or biased to closed position, and wherein the operating mechanism therefor while accessible from the exterior is of a character' such that it cannot cause injury to a child.

A-further object is the provision of a cover assembly including a valve plate, capable of attachment to the neck or body of a can, after filling.-

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a section onv the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

member of the top.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the several elements of the cover or top separated from each other.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section of a part of the inner member of the top.

members are of subsantially the same depth,

so that when the member 2 is fitted within the member 1 the free edges of the flanges will be substantially fius Each of the members has a plurality of openings or erforations, 3 for the member 1, and 4 for t e member 2, and the said openings or perforations of the two members are in register, and preferably in annular formation as shown. The central portion of the member 2 over an area of circular shape is ofiset laterally away from the member 1, as

indicated at 5, to form between the two members a chamber for receiving the 'valve plate 6 p t The plate 6 is circular in outline, and it is pivoted inthe' chamber on a central axis,

to rotate therein. The plate has a central opening 7, through which extends a boss 8 on the inner member 2, and the boss is of a height sufficient to pass through the central opening 7 and engage within a boss 9 on the outer member. The plate 6 has openings or perforations 10 corresponding in size, arrangement and spacing with the registering openings 3 and 4 of the'members, and the said openings 10 are designed to register with the registering openings to permit discharge of the contents of the container.

The plate is provided with a radial arm 11 which forms a handle for manipulating the same. Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the top taken as a whole is dome shaped or convex externally, and the plate 6 is shaped in like manner. The handle extends between the members to and through a circumferential slot 12 in the outer member, and the free end thereof outside theslot is cupped or bossed as shown at 13 toprovide a species of button or knob for convenience in manipulating the same.

The inner member 2 has a substantially radial groove 14 in which the handle lies, and the groove is of suflicient width to per mit the lateral movement of the handle to cover and uncover the perforations of the members 1 and 2. A spring is provided to "normally urge or bias the valve plate to closed position. This spring consists of tWo arms extending at an acute angle, and one of the arms 15 is held beneath struckup spurs or lugs 16 on the inner member. The other arm 17 engages a notched lug 18 on the plate 6, the lug moving in an are shaped slot 19 in the inner member. The arrangement of the spring is such as to normally urge the lug toward one end of the slot and in a direction to move the plate into closed position. In order to make a close seal at the perforated portion of the top, to prevent the entrance of foreign matter and the escape of the containers contents, the inner member 2 is provided with an annular groove 20 near the junction of the offset portion 5 with the body of the member, and the valve plate 6 has an annular rib 21 fitting within the groove. The rib and groove provide a seal between the valve plate and the inner member at the periphery of the valve. Since the rib and groove are circular, it is obvious that they assist in the pivotal mounting of the valve plate. In fact the bosses 8 and 9, and the opening 7 might be dispensed with,- the rib and groove serving the purpose.

The flanges of the members 1 and 2 are in close contact and the said flanges engage outside the top of the container or about a neck on'the same. The flange of the inner member fits the container or neck closely, and the flange of the member 1 fits the flange of the member 2 closely. The containers may be filled from the top in the usual'manner, before the tops are placed, and the tops may be held by friction, by bosses, or in any other suitable manner.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A top for can bodies including a pair of substantially cup or dome shaped members nested one within the other with the side Walls thereof in close engagement and of substantially the same depth and adapted to engage about the top of the body to form a cover therefor, the members having registcring perforations, a plate having perforations spaced to register with those of the members, said members shaped to provide a plate receiving chamber between them of an area corresponding substantially to that of the plate and of a size to permit guided movement of the plate in the chamber, a handle on the plate, the outer member slotted for the passage of the handle, and resilient means acting normally to hold the plate with the perforations thereof out of register with those of the members.

2. A top for can bodies, flanged and de- 8 signed to engage about the end of a can body to form a top therefor, said top including nested substantially dome shaped members fitting closely throughout at the flange, the

the members spaced apart about their center to form a valve plate receiving chamber, a plate rotatable in the chamber, the members and the plate having perforations registering when the plate is in one position, 9 and out of register when the plate is in another position, means to normally hold the plate in said other position, and means to move the plate.

3. A top for can bodies, flanged to engage 1 about. the open end of a can body to form a top therefor, said top including nested substantially dome shaped members fitting closely throughout the flanges, the flanges of substantially the same depth and the members spaced apart about their common center to form a valve plate receiving chamber, a plate rotatable in the chamber, the members and the plate having perforations registering when the plate 1s-in one position, 1 and out of register when the plate is in another position, means to move the plate, the plate and the inner member having an interfitting rib and groove of annular outline outside the perforations and. concentrio with the axis of rotation of the plate.

4. A top for can bodies, flanged to engage about the open end of a can body to form a top therefor, said top including nested substantially dome shaped members fitting closely throughout the flanges, the flanges of substantially the same depth .and the members spaced apart about their common center to form a valve plate receiving chamber, a plate rotatable in the chamber, the

members and the plate having perforations registering when the plate is in one position, and out of register when the plate is in another position, means to move the plate, the

inner member having an annular groove flanges of substantially the same depth, and Q near the edge of the plate and outside the jperforations, and the plate an annular rib tting within the groove.

5. A top for can bodies, flanged toengage about the open end of a body to .form a top therefor, the top including nested substantiall dome shaped members fittin closely t roughout the flanges, the flanges 0 substantially the same depth, and the members spaced apart about their common center to form a valve plate receiving chamber, and a plate rotatable in the chamber, the inner member havin an annular groove near the edge of the ate and concentric with the axis of rotation thereof, the plate having an annular rib fitting and moving within the groove.

6. A top for can bodies, flanged to engage about the open end of a can body to form a top therefor, said top includingnested substantiall dome shaped members ,fittin closely t roughout the flanges, the flanges o substantially the same depth and the members spaced apart about theircommon center to form a valve plate receiving chamber,

Signed at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, this 24th day of March, A. D.. 1926. HENRY HERMANI. 

